Automatic cut-off governor.



Patented May l3, I902.

a. STRONG. AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF GOVERNOR.

Thorn *rnrns GEORGE STRONG, OF PLAINIVELL, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF GOVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 699,771, dated May 13, 1902. Application filed April 24, 1901. Serial No. 57,329. (No model-l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE STRONG, of Plainwell, in the county of Allegan and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Out-Off Governors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to automatic cut-off governors.

The objects of this invention are to produce an automatic cut-01f governor that is simple andinexpensive in construction, eiiicient, positive, durable, and extremely sensitive in service.

Therefore with these objects in view my invention consists of an inner auxiliary eccentric ring supported and free to turn on a hearing provided on the hub of a fly-wheel and an outer main eccentric ring supported and free to turn on the periphery of the inner auxiliary eccentric ring, a stirrup or strap being connected on the periphery of the main eccentric ring and directly attached to a valverod in the usual manner. Two corresponding curved levers of suitable length are employed and pivoted diametrically opposite to each other on and to the spokes or web of the fly-wheel at a corresponding and suitable distance from the center of the fly-wheel shaft. The fulcrums or pivotal points of these two curved levers are preferably fixed to one side of their centers, so as to provide them with a long and short arm extension. Two short connecting-rods are employed to pivotaliy connect the short arms of the curved levers to the outer main eccentric ring, and two longer connecting-rods are also employed to pivotally connect the said short arms to the inner auxiliary eccentric ring. The long-arm extensions of the curved levers are provided with adjustable weights and are also connected between the weights thereon and the fulcrums thereof with one end of a spiral coiled spring the tension of which is regulated by an adjustable tension-rod connected with the other end of said spring. When in operation, the weighted arms of the curved levers by means of any centrifugal movement thereof cause the inner auxiliary eccentric ring to turn on its bearing on the hub of the fiywheel in one direction by means of the longer connecting-rods, while the outer main eccentric ring simultaneously turns on the periphery of the inner auxiliary eccentric ring in another or opposite direction by means of the short connecting-rods. Hence the combined eccentricity of the two eccentric rings automatically and simultaneously cooperating together lengthens the stroke of the valve and also shortens the stroke thereof when the weighted arms centripetally fall to their normal positions, thus rendering the governor extremely sensitive and efficient.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention most nearly appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a fly-wheel of a stationary engine, showing a plan view of my automatic cut-off governor attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse elevation of Fig. 1 in section on dotted line2 2. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the tension screwrod and spiral coiled spring attached to the movable circular screw-block on the end of said tension-rod.

Describing the parts of the drawings pointed out by letters, A indicates an engine flywheel shaft; B, a fly-wheel having a portion of the end of its hub turned down to a smaller diameter, so as to form a shoulder-bearing thereon; C, an auxiliary eccentric ring supported and free to turn on the shoulder-bearing on the hub of said fly-wheel B and is held thereon by a circular plate F, which is fastoned to the hub of said fly-wheel by means of screws H.

D indicates the main eccentric ring, which is placed and free toturn on the periphery of the auxiliary eccentric ring 0, both of which are held in place and in cooperative relation with each other by means of their contacting surface, being rabbeted at their rear contiguous side and the opposite side being grooved to a sufficient depth and width each side of the line of their contiguity, in which is inserted a circular ring G, which is rigidly fastened to the auxiliary eccentric ring 0 by means of screws H, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. On the main eccentric ring D are the usual stirrup-straps E, held together with screws I,

through the lugs T thereon and which are attached and connected in the usual manner.

L indicates two curved levers pivotally attached by means of shouldered pivots or posts J to one of the spokes or to the web of the flywheel B diametrically opposite to each other and at corresponding equal distance from the center of the fly-wheel shaft A.

M indicates two short connecting-rods of corresponding and equal uniform length, pivotally attached at one end to'the end of the short arm of the curved levers L, and the other ends are similarly attached diametrically opposite to each other to the auxiliary eccentric ring 0 at a corresponding equal distance from the center of the fly-wheel shaft A; and M indicates two longer connectingrods one end of which are pivotally connected to the short arms of the curved levers L between the ends and pivotalfulcrums thereof, and the other ends of said connectingrods M are pivotally connected to the main eccentric ring D diametrically opposite to each other and at an equal distance each side of the center of said fly-wheel shaft A. The short-arm extension Von the main eccentric ring D is employed to enable the said connecting-rod attached thereto to be pivotally connected at a corresponding and equal distance from the center of said fly-wheel shaft A as its companion connecting-rod.

N indicates two adjustable weights with slots through their centers to receive thelong arm of the curved levers L and on which the said weights are adjustable and held in said adjusted positions by means of set-screws I.

0 indicates two similar spiral coiled tension-springs, with their hooked ends U attached to the long arm of the curved levers L and the other ends attached to a circular movable screw block W on the threaded stein ofthetensionscrew-rodsP. Theotherthreaded stem ends of said tension rods P are screwed into a screw-threaded eye X in the posts R, fastened to the spokes or web in the fly-wheel B. The tension screw-rods P are provided at one end with a right thread and at the other end with a left thread, and in'the center, interposed between the said right and .left threads, is a wrench-seat Q, which permits the said rods P to be adjusted with a wrench,

if desired.

In the operation of my device it may be explained that when the engine is running at the highest extent of its velocity the long weighted arms of the curved levers L move outward by virtue of the centrifugal force overcoming the resistance of the springs O, which movement simultaneously operates the two eccentric rings 0 and D, causing them to turn in opposite directions to each other, and changes the degree of their eccentricity by means of the connecting-rods M and M, attached to the short arms of said curved levers L, which move inward, and thereby modifies the travel of the valve, which is not shown nor herein described, but is connected in the usual manner to the valve-connecting rod S to produce the required necessary port-opening for varying loads and boiler-pressures. The change in the travel of the valve is governed by the speed or velocity of the engine, and the varied degrees of eccentricity of the two combined eccentric rings 0 and D is governed and caused by the centrifugal movement of the two weighted curved levers L.

My method of construction, substantially as illustrated and described, is such that it makes a perfectly-balanced governor, maintaining at all times a uniformity of motion and gives extreme sensibility and stability to the governor, which is mechanically locked in every position and in which the statical equilibrium is constant.

The speed of the engine can be easily and quickly changed, should it be desired, by adjusting the centrifugal weights N on the curved levers L or by adjusting the tension of the spring 0 or by the adjustment of both.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a device for the purpose described, the combination consisting of an auxiliary eccentric ring supported and free to turn on the hub of a fly-wheel, means for holding same thereon, a main eccentric ring supported and free to turn on the periphery of the said auxiliary eccentric ring, means for preventing the main eccentric ring from working off the periphery of the auxiliary eccentric ring, the two weighted levers provided with adj ustable weights on the free arm extensions thereof, means for pivotally attaching said weighted levers to the spokes or'web of said fly-wheel opposite to each other and an equal distance from the center of fly-wheel shaft, the connecting-rods pivotally attached at one end to the toe ends of the weighted levers and at the other end to the main eccentric ring, the connecting-rods pivotally attached to the weighted levers between the pivotal fulcrums and toe ends thereof and to the an Xiliary eccentric ring, the tension-springs fastened at one end to the free arm extensions of the weighted levers and the other end thereof being attached to a mov able block on the adjustable tension-rods, the adjustable tension-rods,meansfor supporting same, all connected and operated substantially as described and illustrated for the purpose, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE STRONG. lVitnesses:

G. J. HICKS, JOHN HEATH. 

